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1.
Introduction |
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11.
Vestments |
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2.
Work |
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12.
Continued formation |
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3.
Being part of the One Church |
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13.
Holy Orders |
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4.
Working in the community |
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14.
Membership of the Order |
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5.
Liturgy |
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15.
Overseas Provinces |
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6.
Prayer |
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16.
Resignation from the Order |
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7.
The Bible |
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17. |
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8.
The place of ‘the traditions of the church’. |
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18. |
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9.
Language usage |
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19. |
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10.
Authority within the Order |
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20. |
Liturgy,
the sacraments and worship.
1)
Regrettably, denominations have caused and still cause divisions and
barriers within the body of Christ. This is not compatible with the
example and ministry of Christ as outlined in the Gospels or the
words of St Paul regarding the one-ness of the body of Christ (the
one true and unified church) as found in 1 Corinthians 12 for example.
2)
The Order and its members will continue to ignore and break through
the barriers the denominational churches have created by taking the
unconditional love of God to wherever it is needed. This will be done
in a way which brings glory to God, strengthens and makes whole the
body and is done within the bonds of Christian love and in obedience
to the will of God.
3)
Every effort should be made by all members to meet the discerned
needs of all those they come into contact with, whatever their
personal denominational affiliations.
4) A member’s own personal preferences are to be regarded as of
no account when it comes to ministry. Christ met our needs
unconditionally and all members will reflect that grace in their
dealings with others. Members may however pass work on to other
members of the Order if they feel that they cannot give 100% support
to any requests made.
5)
Since the Order is not bound by denominational traditions, its
members are free to access and use whatever forms of sacramental or
other liturgies that are appropriate to the needs of the people they serve.
6)
The exclusive promotion of any one denominational form of liturgy or
practice within the Order is contrary to the founding principles of
the Order and is expressly forbidden.
7)
Similarly, the Order will not be bound by any traditions or canons
of ‘the church’ that deny access to the sacraments or
liturgy to any person who approaches them with respect and in faith,
however limited. If these two conditions are met, all are free to
receive any of the sacraments of the church and shall not be denied them.
8)
Because of the servant nature of Christ as exemplified by the
washing of the disciples’ feet, members may out of humility
adopt the practice of taking their communion of both kinds after all
others have received. |
